10 percent of the largest U.S. craft breweries are in Colorado
Colorado was still home to five of the nation’s 50 largest craft brewers in 2015, although it’s likely the last year for one local brewery on that list.
New Belgium, Oskar Blues, Odell Brewing, Left Hand Brewing and the soon-to-be acquired Breckenridge Brewery were among the Top 50 U.S. craft brewing companies by beer sales volume, according to a report released Tuesday by the Brewers Association, a Boulder-based trade association representing the craft beer industry.
Littleton-based Breckenridge, ranking No. 47, and three other craft breweries — No. 6 Lagunitas Brewing Co., of Petaluma, Calif.; No. 11 Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, of San Diego; and Four Peaks Brewing Co., of Tempe, Ariz. — were acquired or agreed to be acquired by largest alcohol beverage companies in 2015. The Brewers Association pro-rated the beer sales volume for the breweries that are expected to exit the “small, independent and traditional” classification of craft brewery.
Colorado’s largest brewer, New Belgium Brewing Co., held its fourth place ranking behind D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc., Boston Beer Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Cans of Fat Tire roll of the assembly line at New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins. (The Denver Post file) Photo by